As women’s basketball continues to gain momentum, the WNBA is working to improve its player accommodation issues.
Ahead of the WNBA Draft on Monday, the league announcement that it will expand its charter flight program for the 2023 season.
The schedule will now include charter flights for all playoff games, the WNBA Commissioners Cup championship game and select back-to-back scenarios during regular season games.
The league previously only allowed charter flights for the WNBA Finals, the Commissioners Cup championship and in specific, special circumstances.
“Since joining the league a few years ago, one of my goals has been to improve the overall player experience and, in that regard, make incremental improvements where we are able to do so and when we believe the business model would support it for the remainder of the season. in the long term,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “I’m pleased that we can expand the program this year for the players.”
Private plane travel has been a hot topic for the WNBA in recent years – most recently in January, when many free agents discussions broached the subject.
It was previously reported that fully chartering flights for the league would cost the league $30 million per season – a figure the league could not afford.
The New York Liberty was fined $500,000 last season for secretly chartering flights in violation of league rules – which state that all teams must be able to afford the practice.
